Bio
Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, Takudzwa enrolled for a Bachelor of Social Science degree at the University of the Free State in mid-2014. He stayed in one of the residences on campus, JBM Hertzog, now known as Beyers Naude. He was immediately involved in campus life, as he was recruited into the Executive Committee for the Academic portfolio of the SRC for the 2014-2015 term under Jonathan Ruwanika. This role gave him exposure to campus life and activities, which resulted in him being recruited to be part of the Gateway team for the 2015 Global Leadership Summit and other residence-based committees. In 2016, along with Andre Kwenda (2017/2018 SRC) and other international colleagues, they founded the International Students Association, which later went on to form a partnership with the Office for International Affairs. Some of the projects proposed in the partnership that came to life include the Wingman programme (Umoja Buddy programme), the Culture Festival, and Kovsies Biggest Braai. In late 2016, he was voted into the 2016/2017 Student Representative Council as the Chairperson of the International Student Council. He again collaborated and chaired several projects, including the International Students Welcome event and city tour, international associations’ workshop, and launched the Kovsies Biggest Braai event. After concluding his SRC term, Takudzwa continued to be involved in student life while pursuing his honours and master’s qualifications. He co-founded another association in his field called SABPP and worked on campus in various roles.

Message to international students
Attending university in a foreign country can be an intimidating and exciting experience, especially if you have not left your home country before. My advice to you is to embrace the opportunity with your head, hands, and feet, and you might just be surprised with the amount of growth and accomplishment you manage in a short space of time. It is important to note that balance is important in every space, therefore you need to take care of your well-being, which includes your emotional, physical, financial, spiritual, and mental well-being. Remember: “We are the ones we have been waiting for.” Good luck on your journey!

Artistic Statement (Bio-history-message)

My name is Tendai-Andrei Kwenda (Andre_X). Born in Harare, bred and buttered in Southerton. One could describe me as a complete artist, GwenyaMbira, philanthropist, hunter, a community and youth development leader. However, labels do not concern me. I am passionate about the arts, a personal mentor and supporter of young people who display qualities of leadership.

Through his creative passion, Andre_X continues to develop his creative talent, slowly rising to make his mark, not only on the Zimbabwean creative arts scene, but on the universal stage at large. He humbly began his journey of more than fifteen years as creative director of Christmas carols at a Roman Catholic Church in Southerton. Thereafter, continued his creative learning journey at Eaglesvale High School, where he refined his taste in the arts. During his gap year in 2014, he marvelled at Rydings Primary School in Karoi as he directed the annual school play, a recreation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, which he titled Ugugu n’Andile, an African rendition of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

It was at the University of the Free State where he became an institutional game changer. As the Student Representative Council member for International Affairs, Andre_X became part of the brains behind several student-led initiatives, alongside the Office for International Affairs, to promote unity in cultural diversity. By combining his legal education and eagerness to further his learning at university, he was able to effectively advocate for the equal recognition and rights of an often-forgotten minority group of students (international students), using the arts and culture as a driving force in campaigns.

As a result of his organisational efforts, following Saul D Alinksy’s school of thought, international students at the University of the Free State have become a resounding voice of balance, institutional change, and progressiveness in both student governance and internal institutional politics.

He has an overactive yet purpose-driven imagination that almost always finds a unique outlet. The links below are but examples of such outlets:

• Kovsies Biggest Braai
• Ubuntu ‘Meal in a Jar’ initiative
• Africa Day Commemoration
• International Student Association

Diversity Statement (message)

Prospective students

It is often difficult to say thank you to the world – or even for this opportunity – but in many ways, this statement represents my attempt to do exactly just that. Thank you, Office for International Affairs, for affording me the opportunity to excel throughout my journey at the UFS.

Passionate and self-driven to achieve the best, my student work experience under the Department of Student Affairs at the University of the Free State afforded me the opportunity to have a more practical view of the world, free from personal biases. In short, an objective outlook on the world and beyond. Comfortable in discomfort. 

Thus, I have become more concerned with recognising the need to realise the dream of equality, justice, peace, cooperation, equal opportunities for education, full useful employment, health, and circumstances in which man can have the chance to live by values that give meaning to life.

I, Omar-Raphael Tabengwa, was elected SRC: International Students for the year 2018/19. I obtained my BSc Spatial Planning Honours in the year 2020.

During my time as SRC: International Students, the Office for International Affairs and myself managed to have a fully functioning constitution representing each sphere of international students, including ZIMSA (Zimbabwe Students Association), ISA (International Students Association), and LESA (Lesotho Students Association). Several events were hosted together with the office, including the Heritage Day celebration, Kovsies Biggest Braai, and assisting with association functions.  

I am currently returning to do my master’s in Property Management at the University of the Free State. During my time at the university, I participated in various leadership roles and programmes, such as being a P3 head mentor, a wingman, as well as being part of the Umoja Buddy programme. These programmes shaped my path and allowed me to be deeply engrossed in tertiary leadership and politics. My current goal after my studies is to practise environmental consultancy and open my own firm.

During my time at the University of the Free State, the Office for International Affairs has been a great beacon of hope and guidance for me as well as my fellow international students. It is imperative for prospective international students to understand that this is their home away from home.

Click here: Full Term Report

My experiences at the UFS, both in my capacity as a student and as an SRC member, were filled with many exciting uncertainties. The institution provided me with the ability and opportunity to help and advocate for international students where their grievances felt unheard.
My term spiralled into the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented many challenges for students, academic staff, university management, and various other aspects across the world. Not only was this detrimental to the aims, goals, and planned events of my office at the time, but it also provided me with an opportunity to learn how to adapt, work under pressure, and make critical and creative decisions. 
I had the opportunity to work with various stakeholders of the university, which expanded and paved the way for a good relationship with the university management in times of crisis for my successors and others to follow. 

Throughout this catastrophe, I was able to assist international students with the procurement of data bundles to ease their transition to online learning, since all students were requested to vacate their places of residence in South Africa, due to the Level 5 lockdown. 

Furthermore, I was able to commence with the process of amending the UFS Constitution for Student Governance to allow for an integrated council of international students, which serves as a pool of candidates to run for office in future.

My advice to all prospective UFS international students is to make the most of every opportunity. If you are not aware of any opportunities, do some research. There are various opportunities that you can become aware of through participation, as well as awareness of the systems at your disposal, such as the Student Representative Council.

My name is Rufaro Chakanyuka, a third-year Bachelor of Social Sciences student majoring in Industrial Psychology and Sociology. I am a citizen of Zimbabwe, and I am the current SRC office-bearer of the International Student Council.
The role of the SRC office-bearer: International Student Council is to play both a supporting and advocacy role on behalf of the international students they serve. The SRC advocates for international students within the SRC Council and higher offices within the institution to ensure that their needs and challenges are expressed. They also work with the Office for International Affairs to bridge the communication gap between the international office and the students. The university also recognises that most of the challenges faced by international students are unique and could be understood by other international students. Therefore, there is a specific office within the SRC that works to provide support to the students. The support is not defined and varies according to the issue presented. Overall, the SRC works to assist international students and ensure that they are included and given the support they need in a foreign land.